Isaac Van Wart
Encyclopedia
Isaac Van Wart was a militiaman from the state of New York during the American Revolution
. In 1780, he participated in the capture of Major John André
.
, near the village of Elmsford, Van Wart's exact birthdate is not recorded, but his tombstone declares that he died at the age of sixty-nine.
Van Wart married Rachel Storm (1760–1834), a daughter of Elmsford's most prominent family (from whom the settlement's original name, "Storm's Bridge", was derived). He divided his time between his family, his farm, and his church (in time, he became an elder deacon of the Dutch Reformed Church). Van Wart's body was buried in the cemetery of the Elmsford Reformed Church
in Elmsford, New York
.
. Overnight on 22–23 September 1780, he joined John Paulding
and David Williams
in an armed patrol of the area. The three men seized a travelling British officer, Major John André
at a site in Tarrytown
, NY, now called Patriot's Park
. Holding him in custody, they discovered documents of André's secret communication with Benedict Arnold
. The militiamen, all local farmers of modest means, refused André's considerable bribe and instead delivered him to army headquarters. Arnold's plans to surrender West Point to the British were revealed and foiled, and André was hanged as a spy.
With George Washington's personal recommendation, the United States Congress awarded Van Wart, Paulding and Williams the first military decoration of the United States, the silver medal known as the Fidelity Medallion
. Each of the three also received federal pensions of $200 a year, and prestigious farms awarded by New York State.
. A marble and granite monument was erected at his grave on 11 June 1829, bears the single emphatic word "FIDELITY", followed by this epitaph,
The three militiamen were highly celebrated in their lifetimes: commemorations large and small abound in Westchester
(see below), and can be found in many disparate parts of the early United States. Among other honors, each of the men had his name given to a county in the new state of Ohio (1803): Van Wert County, bearing a common alternate spelling of the name, is in the northwest corner of the state.
Still, Van Wart and the others did see their reputations impugned by some. André at his trial had insisted the men were mere brigands; sympathy for him remained in some more aristocratic American quarters (and grew to legend in England, where he was buried in Westminster Abbey
). Giving voice to this sympathy, Representative Benjamin Tallmadge
of Connecticut persuaded Congress not to grant the men a requested pension increase in 1817, publicly assailing their credibility and motivations. Despite the slight, the men's popular acclaim continued to grow throughout the 19th century to almost-mythic status. Some modern scholars have interpreted the episode as a major event in early American cultural development, representing the apotheosis of the common man in the new democratic society.
Van Wart is honored on the monument erected at the site of the capture, Patriots Park in Tarrytown, NY; Van Wart Avenue is located on the south side of town, near the Tappan Zee Bridge. Three streets in the neighboring village of Elmsford, NY, are named for the militiamen, with Van Wart Street being one of the village's main roads. White Plains, NY
, has a Van Wart Avenue in the southwest section of the city, off NY Route 22
. Ohio's Van Wert County is also named after Isaac Van Wart (in addition to Williams
and Paulding
counties, also in Ohio).
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. In 1780, he participated in the capture of Major John André
John André
John André was a British army officer hanged as a spy during the American War of Independence. This was due to an incident in which he attempted to assist Benedict Arnold's attempted surrender of the fort at West Point, New York to the British.-Early life:André was born on May 2, 1750 in London to...
.
Personal history
Born in the farm country of Greenburgh, New YorkGreenburgh, New York
Greenburgh is a town in the western part of Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 88,400 at the 2010 census. Paul J. Feiner has been the Town Supervisor since 1991.-History:...
, near the village of Elmsford, Van Wart's exact birthdate is not recorded, but his tombstone declares that he died at the age of sixty-nine.
Van Wart married Rachel Storm (1760–1834), a daughter of Elmsford's most prominent family (from whom the settlement's original name, "Storm's Bridge", was derived). He divided his time between his family, his farm, and his church (in time, he became an elder deacon of the Dutch Reformed Church). Van Wart's body was buried in the cemetery of the Elmsford Reformed Church
Elmsford Reformed Church and Cemetery
Elmsford Reformed Church and Cemetery is a historic Dutch Reformed church / meeting house and cemetery at 30 S. Central Avenue in Elmsford, Westchester County, New York. It was built in 1783 and is a two story, wood frame building. It is constructed of hand-hewn beams, shingles, and hand-wrought...
in Elmsford, New York
Elmsford, New York
Elmsford is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. Roughly one mile square, the village is fully contained within the borders of the town of Greenburgh...
.
Revolutionary history
Despite his bucolic lifestyle, Van Wart joined the volunteer militia when New York was a battlezone of the RevolutionAmerican Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Overnight on 22–23 September 1780, he joined John Paulding
John Paulding
John Paulding was a militiaman from the state of New York during the American Revolution. In 1780, he participated in the capture of Major John André.-Revolutionary History:...
and David Williams
David Williams (soldier)
David Williams was a militiaman from the state of New York during the American Revolution. In 1780, he participated in the capture of Major John André.Williams should not be confused with, and is not related to, David Williams of Massachusetts, a participant in the Boston Tea...
in an armed patrol of the area. The three men seized a travelling British officer, Major John André
John André
John André was a British army officer hanged as a spy during the American War of Independence. This was due to an incident in which he attempted to assist Benedict Arnold's attempted surrender of the fort at West Point, New York to the British.-Early life:André was born on May 2, 1750 in London to...
at a site in Tarrytown
Tarrytown, New York
Tarrytown is a village in the town of Greenburgh in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, about north of midtown Manhattan in New York City, and is served by a stop on the Metro-North Hudson Line...
, NY, now called Patriot's Park
Patriot's Park
Patriot's Park, originally Brookside Park, is located on U.S. Route 9 along the boundary between Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow, New York, United States. It is a four-acre parcel with a walkway and several monuments...
. Holding him in custody, they discovered documents of André's secret communication with Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
. The militiamen, all local farmers of modest means, refused André's considerable bribe and instead delivered him to army headquarters. Arnold's plans to surrender West Point to the British were revealed and foiled, and André was hanged as a spy.
Fidelity Medallion
The Fidelity Medallion is the oldest decoration of the United States military and was created by act of the Continental Congress in 1780. Also known as the "André Capture Medal", the Fidelity Medallion was awarded to those soldiers who participated in the capture of Major John André, of the...
. Each of the three also received federal pensions of $200 a year, and prestigious farms awarded by New York State.
Legacy
Van Wart died in Elmsford and is buried in the cemetery of the Old Dutch Reformed Church on Route 9New York State Route 9
New York State Route 9 may refer to:*New York State Route 9 in the Southern Tier and Capital District*U.S. Route 9 *U.S. Route 9W...
. A marble and granite monument was erected at his grave on 11 June 1829, bears the single emphatic word "FIDELITY", followed by this epitaph,
The three militiamen were highly celebrated in their lifetimes: commemorations large and small abound in Westchester
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
(see below), and can be found in many disparate parts of the early United States. Among other honors, each of the men had his name given to a county in the new state of Ohio (1803): Van Wert County, bearing a common alternate spelling of the name, is in the northwest corner of the state.
Still, Van Wart and the others did see their reputations impugned by some. André at his trial had insisted the men were mere brigands; sympathy for him remained in some more aristocratic American quarters (and grew to legend in England, where he was buried in Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
). Giving voice to this sympathy, Representative Benjamin Tallmadge
Benjamin Tallmadge
Benjamin Tallmadge was a member of the United States House of Representatives. His birth date is alternately listed as February 25, 1754....
of Connecticut persuaded Congress not to grant the men a requested pension increase in 1817, publicly assailing their credibility and motivations. Despite the slight, the men's popular acclaim continued to grow throughout the 19th century to almost-mythic status. Some modern scholars have interpreted the episode as a major event in early American cultural development, representing the apotheosis of the common man in the new democratic society.
Van Wart is honored on the monument erected at the site of the capture, Patriots Park in Tarrytown, NY; Van Wart Avenue is located on the south side of town, near the Tappan Zee Bridge. Three streets in the neighboring village of Elmsford, NY, are named for the militiamen, with Van Wart Street being one of the village's main roads. White Plains, NY
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
, has a Van Wart Avenue in the southwest section of the city, off NY Route 22
New York State Route 22
New York State Route 22 is a north–south state highway in eastern New York in the United States. It runs parallel to the state's eastern edge from the outskirts of New York City to a short distance south of the Canadian border. At , it is the state's longest north–south route and...
. Ohio's Van Wert County is also named after Isaac Van Wart (in addition to Williams
Williams County, Ohio
Williams County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 37,642. Its county seat is Bryan and is named for David Williams, one of the captors of John André in the American Revolutionary War.-Geography:According to the U.S...
and Paulding
Paulding County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,293 people, 7,773 households, and 5,689 families residing in the county. The population density was 49 people per square mile . There were 8,478 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
counties, also in Ohio).